Electrical device gripping tool and method of using same

ABSTRACT

Embodiments disclosed herein include devices and methods for gripping electrical components. The electrical device gripping tool may include a rotating handle, a cam assembly, and a body. The rotating handle may be attached to the assembly and the cam assembly may include a cam holder that fits over the cam to connect the rotating handle to the body. Furthermore, the body may include a first body half and a second body half that are each separately coupled to the cam such that the first body half and the second body half slide towards each other and slide away from each other with respect to a rotation of the rotating handle.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/503,279, filed on May 8, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed technology relates generally to electrical tools, and more particularly, some embodiments relate to an electrical device gripping tool and methods of using the same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Electrical workers are often considered to be engaged in a very dangerous profession. Electrical workers are tasked with working on high voltage, high current electrical circuits. Although electrical workers take many precautions against the risk of shock, accident still occur. Miswiring of the circuit or mislabeling of junction boxes and components can cause an electrician to be exposed to a live circuit even after he or she has taken reasonable steps to turn off the circuit. To exacerbate this problem, electrical workers are often required to manipulate electrical components with their hands or with metal tools. For example, to pull an electrical socket out of a wall box, electricians often use their hands. Consequently, they might accidentally touch the electrical posts carrying electricity to the socket.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS

According to various embodiments of the disclosed technology, an electrical device gripping tool is described. According to one embodiment, the electrical device gripping tool may include a handle; a body with a first body half and a second body half such that the first body half and the second body half slide towards each other and slide away from each other with respect to a rotation of the handle. Additionally, the electrical device gripping tool may also include a cam portion with a cam holder that fits over a cam to connect the handle to the body, such that the first body half and the second body half are each separately coupled to the cam.

Other various embodiments, may include a method for handling an electrical gripping tool. Some embodiments may include obtaining the electrical gripping tool with a handle; a body with a first body half and a second body half such that the first body half and the second body half slide towards each other and slide away from each other with respect to a rotation of the handle; and a cam portion with a cam holder that fits over a cam to connect the handle to the body, such that the first body half and the second body half are each separately coupled to the cam.

Other embodiments may include a shield that provides a guide to prevent accidental contact of electrical terminals with the metal enclosure of the electrical device.

Additional embodiments may include aligning the body over a part of an electrical device and rotating the handle to adjust space between the first body half and second body half so that the part of the electric device is placed in between the first body half and the second body half.

Other features and aspects of the disclosed technology will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the features in accordance with embodiments of the disclosed technology. The summary is not intended to limit the scope of any inventions described herein, which are defined solely by the claims attached hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The technology disclosed herein, in accordance with one or more various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments of the disclosed technology. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of the disclosed technology and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability thereof. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.

Some of the figures included herein illustrate various embodiments of the disclosed technology from different viewing angles. Although the accompanying descriptive text may refer to such views as “top,” “front,” “back,” “bottom” or “side” views, such references are merely descriptive and do not imply or require that the disclosed technology be implemented or used in a particular spatial orientation unless explicitly stated otherwise.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example electrical component gripping tool in accordance with one embodiment of the technology described herein.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the example electrical component gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an example cam for the example electrical component gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view of one side of an example tool body for the example electrical component gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an example tool body for the example electrical component gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the example electrical component gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the example electrical component gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1 in engagement with an example electrical component.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the example electrical component gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an end view of the example electrical component gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating operation of the example electrical component gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a close up view of the handle of the example electrical component gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the example electrical component gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the example electrical component gripping tool with an example of a shield attached.

FIG. 14 is perspective drawing of the example shield.

FIG. 15 is a cross-section drawing of the example electrical component tool with the example shield attachment.

The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that the invention can be practiced with modification and alteration, and that the disclosed technology be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the technology disclosed herein are directed toward devices and methods for gripping electrical component for operations such as, for example, removal, installation or handling of the electrical component. Embodiments can be configured to grip various electrical components such as, for example, electrical outlets, switches, dimmers, and other electrical components. The tool is dimensioned to conform to the geometry and configuration of the electrical component that it is intended to grip. The tool includes a body portion and a handle portion. The body portion is constructed in two halves that are slidably mounted relative to one another such that they can be separated from each other to be positioned on the electrical component, and slid together to grip the electrical component. The handle portion in some embodiments includes a cam with elliptical shaped slots to engage the body half such that when the handle portion is rotated in one direction, the body half can be moved toward one another and when the handle portion is rotated in the other direction, the body half are moved apart from one another.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example electrical device gripping tool in accordance with one embodiment described herein. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an exploded view of the example electrical device gripping tool shown in FIG. 1. With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the example electrical device gripping tool 10 illustrated in in this example includes a handle 20, a cam holder 30, a cam 40, a gripper body 50 (in two halves), device gripping arms 70. Cam holder 30 may be included to fixedly engage cam 40 such that rotation of handle 20 imparts a like rotation on cam 40. Cam 40 includes the guidepost slots 44 (FIG. 3) that are dimensioned and positioned to engage with guide posts 56 on gripper body 50. In operation, rotation of handle 20 imparts a rotation on cam holder 30, which in turn rotates cam 40. Rotation of cam 40 in one direction causes the left and right body half 50 to move toward one another, while rotation of cam 40 in the other direction causes the left and right body half 50 to move away from one another.

As seen in this example, the handle portion of gripping tool 10 includes a cam holder 30, which includes a rotary axis guide 32 and a rotary axis guide contoured grip 34 to engage cam 40. Left and right body half 50 include rotary guide walls 54 that engage with rotary axis guide 32. Cam 40 is dimensioned to fit within cam holder 30 and, as noted above, in some embodiments is fixedly attached thereto such that cam 40 rotates with rotation of handle portion 20.

Body half 50 in this example further include horizontal tracking guide bar 52, horizontal tracking guide bar slot 53, cam alignment tracking pins 58, and screw holders 70 to accept screws 72 (e.g., screws used to mount the electrical device to its electrical box). The screw holders 70 may be included to provide temporary storage for the screws 72 until the screws 72 are needed when the electrical device is re-installed. As also noted above, body half 50 in this example also include guide posts 56 and a rotary guide walls 54.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a cam for use with the gripping device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As this example illustrates, cam 40 includes guide post slots 44, which each include a guide post loading hole 46. This example also includes a guide pin groove 42 and cam mounting alignment slots 48. As seen in FIG. 2, cam 40 is dimensioned such that cam body portions 43 and 45 provide an additional guiding slot 41 for the head of guide posts 56. This is further illustrated in the cross-sectional view provided at FIG. 15, which is described in more detail below.

With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 3, engagement of cam 40 with body half 50 is now described. Guide post loading holes 46 are dimensioned to accept guide posts 56 and guide pin groove 42 is dimensioned to accept cam alignment tracking pins 58. Accordingly, to engage the handle portion of the tool with body half 50, the handle portion is oriented such that guidepost loading holes 46 are aligned with guideposts 56 and the body and handle portions of the tools are mated. Rotation of the handle portion relative to the body portion enables the head portion of guide posts 56 to engage with corresponding guidepost slots 44 such that the handle portion becomes rotatably attached to the body portion.

As the example of FIG. 3 illustrates, guidepost slots 44 and guide pin groove 42 trace an elliptical path. Accordingly, when the handle is positioned relative to the body with cam alignment tracking pins 58 and guide posts 56 positioned at opposite ends of the major axes of the ellipses formed by guide pin groove of 42 and guidepost slots 44, respectively, the body half are separated. When the handle is rotated in a direction such that cam alignment tracking pins 58 and guide posts 56 are positioned at opposite ends of the minor axes of the ellipses formed by guide pin groove of 42 and guidepost slots 44, the two body half 50 are moved together in touching relation. Similarly, when the handle is rotated back in the other direction, cam alignment tracking guide posts 56 are pushed apart from one another as they are moved along their respective grooves, causing body half 50 to also move apart.

Cam mounting alignment slots 48 are provided in cam 40 such that cam 40 can be aligned within handle 20. Although not illustrated, cam holder 30 of handle 20 can include complementary pins to mate with cam mounting alignment slots 48 to ensure that cam 40 is properly oriented in handle 20.

FIG. 4 is a top view of one side of an example tool body for the example electrical component gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1. This illustrates that guidepost 56 and cam alignment tracking pin 58 are aligned horizontally along centerline 80 (FIG. 2). In this example, rotary guide walls 54 also include a radius. This radius is dimensioned to accept rotary axis guide 32 and to allow rotary axis guide 32 to rotate within the boundaries defined by rotary guide walls 54.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an example tool body for the example electrical component gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1. This side view illustrates the profile of guidepost 56, which includes a cylindrical body portion of the first diameter and a head portion of a second, larger diameter. The larger diameter head is dimensioned to fit through guide post the loading hole 46 and engage with the guide post slot 44. FIG. 5 also illustrates an end view of horizontal tracking guide bar 52 and horizontal tracking guide bar slot 53. Tracking guide bar 52 and horizontal tracking guide bar slot 53 are positioned on each body half 50 and dimensioned such that when the body half are put together, tracking guide bar 52 of one body half aligns with and can slide into tracking guide bar slot 53 of the other body half. In the illustrated example, tracking guide bar 52 is an elongate member with a roughly rectangular cross-section. The end of tracking guide bar 52 can be tapered for easier positioning within tracking guide bar slot 53.

FIGS. 1 and 5 also illustrate gripping arms 60 that extend below the main portion of the body half 50. As described in more detail below, gripping arms 60 include structures dimensioned to engage with the electrical device that the tool is intended to grip.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the example electrical component gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1. In this example, the two body half 50 are mated with one another, but spaced apart such that the horizontal tracking guide bars 52 of each half 50 can be seen. In this configuration, horizontal tracking guide bars 52 are partially inserted into tracking guide bar slot 53. This example also illustrates that cam 40 is rotated relative to the body portion such that guideposts 56 (not visible in the drawing, but their position is illustrated by the two circles) are at opposite ends of the major axes of the ellipse formed by guidepost slots 44.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the example electrical component gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1 in engagement with an example electrical component. In this example, electrical device 90 can be, for example, an electrical outlet, switch, or other electrical device. Electrical device 90 includes electrical device mounting bracket 92 that includes tabs extending away from electrical device 90. Mounting bracket 92 can be, for example, the metal bracket included with electrical devices to allow the device to be screwed in place in a mounting box.

As this example illustrates, gripping channels 62 are dimensioned to engage mounting bracket 92, such that when the body half are slid together (through rotation of the handle), device frame lifting wedge 68 lifts mounting bracket 92 (and consequently electrical device 90) into gripping channel 62. Locking teeth 64 are positioned under mounting bracket 92 such that when the electrical device gripping tool 10 is pulled away from the mounting box, the electrical device 90 is pulled with it. This example also illustrates device frame alignment guide 67 to allow mounting bracket 92 to be directed toward channel 62 when the two halves 50 are being slid together.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the example electrical component gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1. This shows an example of the spatial relationship and configuration of handle 20, cam holder 30, rotary access guide con toward grip 34, body half 50 and device gripping arms 60.

On top of the handle, an electrical device spacer 22 may be present. The electrical device spacer 22 may help ensure that electrical devices are precisely spaced apart the required distance in order to allow an electrical device cover plate to slide between the electrical devices when installing multiple electrical devices. For example, after tightening the first electrical device into place, the user may rest the electrical device spacer 22 against the edge of the second electrical device. The user may then slide the second electrical device against the electrical device spacer 22 and tighten the screws on the second electrical device. The user can repeat procedure on additional electrical devices. The electrical devices will now have correct spacing so the electrical device cover plate will precisely fit in the area required.

FIG. 9 is an end view of the example electrical component gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1. This also illustrates an example of the spatial relationship and configuration of handle 20, cam holder 30, rotary access guide contour grip 34, body half 50 and device gripping arms 60. FIG. 9 also shows example geometries for gripping channel 62, locking teeth 64, intellectual device top alignment guide 66, device frame alignment guide 67, and device frame lifting wedge 68. As can be seen in this example in the example of FIG. 1, locking teeth 64 extend inward and also define the lower surface of channel 62.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating operation of the example electrical component gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1. As seen in this example, when the handle is rotated clockwise, body half 50 are slid together, and when the handle is rotated counterclockwise the body half can be slid apart from one another. In some embodiments, the dimensions of the guide slots in cam 40 are chosen such that body half 50 can be slid together until they are touching one another. They can further be dimensions such that when the handle is rotated in the other direction, the body half can be slid far enough apart from one another such that the electrical device gripping tool can be positioned over the electrical device it is intended to grip.

FIG. 11 is a close up view of the handle 20 of the example electrical component gripping tool 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. As illustrated, the example gripping tool 10 includes a rotary axis guide contoured grip 34 positioned below the cam holder 30, where the rotary axis guide contoured grip 34 also sits directly above the rotary axis guide 32. By way of example, the rotary axis guide contoured grip 34 may include raised edges that are equally spaced apart to help provide a more enhanced and secure grip when handling the rotary axis guide contoured grip 34. Additionally, the rotary axis guide contoured grip 34 may rotate about the rotary axis guide 32. As seen in this example, the handle is shaped with indentations on opposite sides of the handle to allow the operator to have a more secure grip on the tool, which can be useful to provide a secure grip when, for example, unscrewing or screwing the terminal screws of the electrical device. The handle includes a first end portion, a second end portion and a center portion between the first and second end portions. In this example, the width of the first and second end portions of the handle is greater than the width of the central portion of the handle, which allows the operator to have a more secure grasp on the tool.

A latch 36 may be located on the rotary axis guide 32 so that when the latch 36 is positioned in the lock position, the cam holder 30 and the handle 20 is no longer able to freely rotate, which then prevents the body half (not shown here) from sliding.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the example electrical component gripping tool 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. As this example illustrates, the gripping tool 10 includes a cam holder 30 that is encircled by the rotary axis guide 32 and the rotary access guide contour grip 34. The rotary access guide contour grip 34 may also include a latch 36 so that when engaged in the lock position, the handle is no longer able to freely rotate and remains in the affixed position. When this occurs, the body half 50 with its device gripping arms 60 also remains in its affixed position so that the body half 50 can no longer move far apart or closer to the other body half until the latch 36 is released.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the gripper tool with a shield 80 attached to each of the body halves 50. As this example illustrates, when shield 80 is attached, tines 84 extend in a direction toward the electrical component to be grabbed. Tines 84 can aid alignment of the electrical component during insertion and extraction operations.

FIG. 14 is a diagram of a shield 80 that attaches to body half 50 by means of features 82, 86 and 88. 82 and 86 act as a locking mechanism to attach shield 80 to body half 50 and 88 is inserted into slot 53 of body half 50 and acts as an alignment and locking mechanism.

FIG. 15 is a cross section of the gripper tool 10 with shield 80 attached to each half 50. This diagram also illustrates the interaction between the body halves 50 and cam 40. The heads of guide posts 56 interact with guidepost slot 41, and cam body portions 43, 45 to maintain cam 40 and body halves 50 in a parallel relation as the two body halves 50 move towards or away from each other. In the illustrated examples, cam 40 is a floating cam, meaning it has no fixed center point from which to rotate about but has a virtual center point maintained by constraints body half 54 and handle 32 in addition to 52 and 53.

While various embodiments of the disclosed technology have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the disclosed technology, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the disclosed technology. The disclosed technology is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but the desired features can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional, logical or physical partitioning and configurations can be implemented to implement the desired features of the technology disclosed herein. Also, a multitude of different constituent module names other than those depicted herein can be applied to the various partitions. Additionally, with regard to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and method claims, the order in which the steps are presented herein shall not mandate that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recited functionality in the same order unless the context dictates otherwise.

Although the disclosed technology is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosed technology, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the technology disclosed herein should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or the like; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.

The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of the term “module” does not imply that the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a module, whether control logic or other components, can be combined in a single package or separately maintained and can further be distributed in multiple groupings or packages or across multiple locations.

Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An electrical device gripping tool comprising: a handle; a body comprising a first body half and a second body half such that the first body half and the second body half slide towards each other and slide away from each other with respect to a rotation of the handle; and a cam portion comprising a cam holder that fits over a cam to connect the handle to the body, wherein the first body half and the second body half are each separately coupled to the cam.
 2. The electrical device gripping tool of claim 1, wherein the cam comprises a first post loading hole to receive and engage a first guidepost located on the first body half and a second post loading hole to receive and engage a second guidepost located on the second body half so as to affix the cam to the body.
 3. The electrical device gripping tool of claim 2, wherein the cam further comprises a first guide post slot adjoined to the first post loading hole and a second guide post slot adjoined to the second post loading hole to allow the first guidepost to slide along the first guide post slot and the second guidepost to slide along the second guide post slot so that the rotation of handle imparts a sliding motion of the first body half and the second body half about the cam.
 4. The electrical device gripping tool of claim 3, wherein the cam further comprises a guide pin groove configured to receive alignment tracking pins on the body to properly align the cam with the body.
 5. The electrical device gripping tool of claim 3, wherein the first guidepost and the second guidepost slide away from each other when the handle is rotated clockwise.
 6. The electrical device gripping tool of claim 3, wherein the first guide post and the second guide post slide towards each other when the handle is rotated clockwise.
 7. The electrical device gripping tool of claim 1, further comprising a latch on the cam assembly to prevent rotation of the handle, which results in the first body half and the second body half to remain affixed in position.
 8. The electrical device gripping tool of claim 1, wherein each the first body half and the second body half each comprise a gripping arm configured to receive a part of an electrical device.
 9. The electrical gripping tool of claim 8, wherein the device gripping arm comprises a channel at one end of the device gripping arm.
 10. The electrical gripping tool of claim 9, wherein the part of the electrical device comprises a tab of an electrical outlet.
 11. The electrical gripping tool of claim 9, wherein the device gripping arm comprises a locking teeth extended inward at one side of the device gripping arm.
 12. The electrical gripping tool of claim 9, wherein the channel comprises a lifting wedge of a bottom surface of the channel to lift the electrical device.
 13. The electrical device gripping tool of claim 1, further comprising a shield, the shield including a plurality of tines extending from the body to prevent contact of electrical device wire contacts with an electrical box that the electrical device is being installed in or removed from.
 14. The electrical device gripping tool of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises indentations on opposite sides of the handle.
 15. The electrical device gripping tool of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a raised top surface having a width to provide a spacer to adjust spacing between electrical devices.
 16. The electrical device gripping tool of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a first end portion, a second end portion and a center portion between the first and second end portions, and a width of the first and second end portions of the handle is greater than a width of the central portion of the handle.
 17. A method for handling an electrical gripping tool comprising: obtaining the electrical gripping tool comprising: a handle; a body comprising a first body half and a second body half such that the first body half and the second body half slide towards each other and slide away from each other with respect to a rotation of the handle; and a cam portion comprising a cam holder that fits over a cam to connect the handle to the body, wherein the first body half and the second body half are each separately coupled to the cam. aligning the body over a part of an electrical device; and rotating the handle to adjust spacing between the first body half and second body half so that at least part of the electric device is placed in between and gripped by the first body half and the second body half.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first body half and the second body half comprises a gripping arm with a channel at one end of the gripping arm to receive the part of the electrical device.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising guiding the channel to securely receive the part of the electrical device.
 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising rotating the handle clockwise to slide the first body half away from the second body half in order to conform to dimensions of the part of the electrical device.
 21. The method of claim 17, further comprising rotating the handle counterclockwise to slide the first body half towards the second body half to conform to dimensions of the part of the electrical device.
 22. The method of claim 17, further comprising placing a latch located on the cam assembly in a lock position to prevent the handle from rotating.
 23. The method of claim 17, wherein the device gripping arm comprises locking teeth extended inward at one side of the device gripping arm.
 24. The method of claim 21, further comprising pulling the electrical device out from a surface.
 25. The method of claim 17, wherein the device gripping arm further comprises a shield, the shield including a plurality of tines extending from the body to prevent contact of electrical device wire contacts with an electrical box that the electrical device is being installed in or removed from.
 26. The method of claim 17, wherein the handle comprises indentations on opposite sides of the handle configured to provide a grip around the handle.
 27. The method of claim 17, wherein the handle comprises a raised top surface.
 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising positioning the electrical gripping tool next to a first electrical device, such that dimensions of the raised surface provides guidance in spacing apart the first electrical device from a second electrical device.
 29. The method of claim 17, wherein the handle comprises a first end portion, a second end portion and a center portion between the first and second end portions, and a width of the first and second end portions of the handle is greater than a width of the central portion of the handle. 